swad-e-gham mein kahin gosha-e-aman na mila
hum aise khoe ki phir tera aastan na mila

ghamon ki bazm ki tanhaiyon ki mahfil thi
hamein wo dushman-e-tamkin kahan kahan na mila

ajib daur-e-sitam hai ki dil ko muddat se
nawed-e-gham na mili muzhda-e-ziyan na mila

kise hai yaad ki sai-o-talab ki rahon mein
kahan mila hamein tera nishan kahan na mila

udhar wafa ka gila hai ki dil lahu na hua
udhar sitam ko shikayat ki qadr-dan na mila

labon ko nutq ka eajaz to mila 'taban'
magar sukut ka pairaya-e-bayan na mila